Method of and means for producing sound



Nov. 17, 1925. 1,562,221

E. F. FROST METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR PRODUCING SOUND Filed Aug. 14, 1922 Patented Nov. 17, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELLIS F. FROST, OF COLONIAL BEACH, VIRGINIA.

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR PRODUCING SOUND.

Application filed August 14, 1922. Serial No. 581,805.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELLIs F. FROST, a citizen of the United States, residing at Colonial Beach, in the county of Westmoreland and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of and Means for Producing Sound, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to a novel method for producing sound and means for practicing the method.

The object of the invention is to produce sound by a simple method carried out by simple and inexpensive means available among other uses as a toy. To the accomtended and attenuated elastic membrane will set up vibrations which will be audible when resonated by a chamber of which the membrane forms a portion only or the entire enclosing wall of the chamber. In the preferred form of means for carrying out the method formulated upon the discovery mentioned, a chamber 1 is enclosed by a substantially spherical wall 2 of thin rubber or other suitable material distended and attenuated by fluid pressure within the chamber.

In other words, a rubber bubble or balloonis formed and properly sealed. If this bubble or balloon is rubbed its surface will be crepitated and vibrations will be set up.v To render these vibrations properly audible it is desirable to confine the vibrations to the crepitated portion of the wall and to direct the same to the resonating chamber. To this end the wall 2 is encircled by an inelastic. holder 3 by which the device may be gripped and which serves to restrict those portions of the wall 2 which extend beyond either edge of the holder, either of which portions may be rubbed to produce the crepitation and consequent vibrations to be resonated by the chamber.

In operation, the holder 3 isgripped-by one hand While the membrane is rubbed and crepitated by the other; the holder serving the dual purpose of holding the device and affording a resistance of the membrane to friction. v i

The manner of distending and sealing the wall 2 is not material nor is it material how the holder 3'is applied to the wall of the chamber.

In Figure. 2 is shown a modified instead of merely encircling the equator of the wall, is given the form of a cup 3 with or without a handle 4 attached thereto. The device, when held in one hand and briskly but lightly rubbed by the other, will give forth shrill, piercing sounds not unlike the chirping of a bird.

What I claim is:

1. A chamber having an. elastic mem branous Wall retained by fluid pressure in a curved distended and attenuated condition and means for causing vibrations set up by crepitating said walls to be resonated by the chamber.

2. A chamber having an elastic membranous wallretained by fluid pressure in a curved distended and attenuated condition, and a holder for holding the wall against such bodily movement as would result in the dissipation or absorption of the vibrations set up by crepitating the wall, whereby such vibrations will be resonated by the chamber.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aifix my signature ELLIS F. FROST.

form of the holder 3. In this variation the holder, 

